Editor’s note: This translated article shows the results of a survey regarding love and marriage in China for 2014. The article reveals some worrying trends, such as the toll that pressure to marry from families has on the mental health of singles and increasingly high expectations for potential partners. Anti-social behavior, staying in a lot and spending time with the same groups were given as major reasons why people stay single.
Yesterday, a well-known dating site released a 2014 survey report on love and marriage among Chinese people. The website collected over 70,000 surveys to create the report, which is titled the “2014 Love and Marriage Survey Report.” The survey shows that Chinese are mainly single because they live alone for too long and because their social circles are small and limited.
Photo: Baidu
The report was mainly done as an online questionnaire and was taken by daters in 34 provinces and autonomous regions. Out of 73,215 surveys, the website chose 200 single men and women to sit down with and conduct in-depth interviews.
Single and Alone
The survey shows that 63 percent of single people on average spend more than six hours alone. 31.7 percent spend more than ten hours a day alone. Singles mainly spend their time on the internet at home, with friends at home and resting.
32.2 percent of single women spend much of their time at home watching dramas while 66.6 percent of men spend most of their free time online. There are definitely some gender differences in this instance.
Singles in China spent a lot of time alone and when they do go out, their social circles are small. This is a major reason why many are still single. 80 percent of single women noted these two factors as the main reasons for being single.
Men Want Beauty, Women Want Cash
The report shows that more than 40 percent of single men and women have specific conditions for their romantic partners. Love is no longer the only factor for marriage. People have become more rational when it comes to finding their life partners.
Men care more about external appearance, physical health and emotional experience. Women care more about a man’s economic conditions, health and career.
Many singles said that they had issues with emotions and mental health because of their parents. 33.5 percent of males and 27.4 percent of women reported that they had been affected by their parents in this way.
70 Percent of Women Require Partner to Have a House
71.8 percent of women said that they would only consider a man for marriage if he had a house. 17.8 percent of women said that men needed to have a car. This number has increased since 2012, especially the number of women who require a car for marriage. This figure has increased by 9 percentage points.
In addition, both men and women feel that both sides should have a steady income. Although there has been a change to create the national “two-child policy,” nearly 60 percent of women are not planning to have a second child. This is nearly 11 percentage points higher than men. 33.3 percent of women think that men do not deserve Chinese women because Chinese women are more accomplished than Chinese men and are much better at grooming and self-care.
Source: Tencent News
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Keywords: Marriage Survey China Being Single in China
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It's superficial of women to think that men only exist to serve them and provide them security for life. What do men get in return, maybe they should require women to provide for them for a change??
Jan 22, 2015 11:53 Report Abuse
"In addition, both men and women feel that both sides should have a steady income." Yeah, men and women both believe in equality, and both sides should contribute equally. Except, you know, the man should be the one to spend his money on a home (that she'll live in too) and a car (that she'll also use), working longer hours than he would want at a job he would prefer not to have, so she can have material luxuries she doesn't work for. But hey, China is a society that treats women like property while all men have all the privilege and whatnot... because... that's what we're told. It's an awesome privilege working yourself to death at a job you hate to earn money for the benefit of someone else all because society expects it (and tells the other person she is entitled to it). And no, I'm not saying that it's really men who are oppressed and women have all the privilege, just that it's more subtle and complex than "Men have all the privilege, and women are oppressed". Shitty gender roles are shitty for everyone.
Jan 15, 2015 21:51 Report Abuse
i don't need a man to have a house, coz i have it myself. Yeah!
Jan 15, 2015 17:34 Report Abuse
Why do you use the word "hate"? you can say we hated japanese because of the bloody wars
Jan 19, 2015 14:39 Report Abuse
I don't hate all Japnese as not everyone participated in the war.War is sad,most human being don't like it.
Jan 22, 2015 10:57 Report Abuse
"33.3 percent of women think that men do not deserve Chinese women because Chinese women are more accomplished than Chinese men and are much better at grooming and self-care." Chinese women today are undeniably more academically and professionally successful than their male counterparts. Gender ratio aside, these accomplishments give them a right to be choosy with prospective partners. And while they definitely have much better grooming habits than the men, many of them need to practice better oral hygiene skills. Mouthwash, for a start.
Jan 15, 2015 17:07 Report Abuse
Single, alone and picky?,haha.It is me.But I don't require a house so much. I guess because Chinese have the house culure,so most women in China requires house for getting married.Like my mother alwaysd told me to pick up the white man who has house(She knows I like white men^^)
Jan 15, 2015 16:43 Report Abuse
'pick up the white man who has house" wow..maybe you should buy the house, then pick one to live in...
Jan 16, 2015 10:12 Report Abuse
That is what my mother's requirement.God,I told already I don't require a house to get married.Besides my mother just wants her daughter has less pressure in marriage,I never blame my mother for giving this advice even I don't take it.I understand her worrying.
Jan 17, 2015 13:12 Report Abuse
Is not because you will find a white man your life will change and you will be secure (just stop dreaming). You should travel in Europe and America after you can have your own think about white men and you will see How people think about love... In China too many people dream, what is good but be realistic please. PS: don't take that for you :)
Jan 27, 2015 15:27 Report Abuse
If you are buying a beautiful wife then after 20 years you should have right to change it with a fresh one. Woman who chases only financial security should be punished like that after 20 years. Actually Chinese rich guys change wifes when they have money even they are old? I personally dont feel sad for woman who chases money when they are young and thrown out when their beauty fades away when they are in middle age.
Jan 15, 2015 15:54 Report Abuse
so what should happen to the man that uses his money to chase hot ass?? Is that not just ass superficial?? What should happen to him?? Or you or I?? pretty much any guy. How it that any different??
Jan 15, 2015 16:12 Report Abuse
First of all I believe they are both adult. If the guy wants a beautiful young girl and this girl agrees to it so I do not see any trouble. In virtually any European country then if one of the partners wants to quit so he/she is entitled to do it irrespective of the other partner wish. Same in China. But because generally by entering into marriage the man does not risk anything - still proceeding with own career, living own life - while the the girl gives up pretty much so it's just natural that she also wants to protect her interests. So when, as you say 'their beauty fades away' and in case they are dropped by their husband so they have at least something what helps them to start the new life. I find it quite a good system and absolutely do not understand how it can bother anyone. If you do not like it so you just do not select such a girl ...
Jan 27, 2015 18:00 Report Abuse
So the women spend most of their time watching dramas and the men spend their time online playing games. Quite typical of what I see here on a daily basis. Most people here don't even know how to communicate or interact with each other and they wonder why they can't find a partner. You only need to look at Chinese couples in restaurants. They will have their heads in their phones over dinner instead of enjoying the occasion and conversing. That kind of behaviour is frowned upon in the west. It's quite pathetic really.
Jan 15, 2015 15:32 Report Abuse
I heard an English guy told his smartphone is like his wife and I saw so.many westerners play phone a lot no matter where they are going.
Jan 17, 2015 13:16 Report Abuse
Yes westerners do use smart phones. But where I'm from people don't use them while having a meal. We talk to each other!
Jan 17, 2015 14:31 Report Abuse
Maybe just happens with your circles,where I come from westerners use smarphone during the conversation and meals.
Jan 17, 2015 17:02 Report Abuse
Ok, first of all calling all white people "westerners" is disrespectful. We have a nationality, but it seems you know very little about ettiquette. The world does not revolve around China.
Jan 19, 2015 12:35 Report Abuse
Why? Why so violently? You can also just tell them it bothers you and if they do not respect that so simply next time select different 'eating partner'. Much better for your (and probably also their) meal enjoyment.
Jan 27, 2015 17:51 Report Abuse
I just dont see how woman asking for financial security is any different than a man wanting a hot woman. Women are obviously in a position to choose right now so good for them. I think foreigners reading this would take this article in a completely different way that a Chinese person would. Its not like men want to rent forever but are only buying to get married. Houses are obviously alot more important to Chinese people and its a sign of basic security not wealth. I think the most telling number was the only 17% that demanded a car. Thats pretty low and I think it shows that these women are not looking for BMWs and prada. Just basic financial security. Nothing wrong with that in my books.
Jan 15, 2015 13:39 Report Abuse
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